The barest of details are being released regarding the school shootings in Connecticut.   With the speed of information, even if you read this ten minutes after I post it, you’ll probably have more information that I do right now.

All we know for certain is that a man murdered a lot of children and adults.  The number keeps changing.  Even the circumstances are murky and will be for some time.

{Update: In the 30 minutes since I posted this, the authorities have realized they had the shooter’s name wrong. I underscore – we do not know much about this yet. Form your opinions gingerly.}

Even so, I see people on both sides of the gun argument begin to line up and construct their arguments.  With the barest of details – and those highly suspect – people are unable to conceal their desire that this shooting be the one to prove their point.   “What if guns were banned….” or “What if a teacher had been carrying a weapon…”.

I have strong feelings on all this but honestly, they’re a bit numb today. I’m not interpreting any of this through the lens of a gun owner or via the over arching question about the four thousand babies that will be killed today.

I’m thinking like a parent.

My guess is they are not pondering guns, although I am sure their voice will be heard (and deserves it’s day).  They are not pondering how their loss compares to the bigger picture.  Their loss is their loss and to compare it to anything diminished both losses.

Parents aren’t asking ‘how’.  They are asking ‘why’.  And the church has given them very little to work with in finding an answer.

  • The God of the American church is good.  He’s generous, He’s happy and He likes our acoustic guitars and backdrops.
  • The Devil of the American culture hasn’t been spoken of in twenty years and the bulk of the church lives as if they question his existence or are embarrassed to admit they think he might exist.

In 2008, Rick Santorum had the gall to raise the issue, speaking at a Ave Maria University in Florida, where he said:

“Satan has his sights on the United States of America.”

“Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition.”

Years later, as he mounted a bid for the presidency, Santorum was berated for such crazy beliefs.  America, like God, was good and strong and benevolent.  To think there was another force at work – anything other than good – was to be archaic and ridiculous.

Today’s tragedy happened because the enemy of our soul had his way with a man.  

If you have a better answer – not for the masses, but for the parents of today’s victims – step up to the microphone and make your case.